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Brian started diving into the world of craft beer in 2004, tracking all of the beers he tasted online, with notes. He picked up homebrewing in 2008 and began judging in 2010. Taking pride in the opportunity to give feedback to brewers of all sorts, he has progressed through the BJCP, attaining the rank of Master in 2013. He formerly acted as an Associate Exam Director for the BJCP, as well as an exam administrator and proctor, and presently holds the rank of Grand Master IV, as well as Mead judge. To him, the most important aspect of judging is to know your limits and learn how to recognize them and expand them. To achieve that end, Brian has judged in over 100 competitions in 12 states and counting, including the Great American Beer Festival, and visits innumerable breweries. He also helps organize a few competitions each year, including the role of judge coordinator for the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (which you may know as FoBAB), the largest of its kind in the world.
Raspberry Nimbus by Lakefront Brewery is being judged here as a 29A Fruit Beer.
In the glass, it's a fairly cloudy deep magenta with a rapidly collapsing head. A bit of head would be nice, but the fruit is likely killing that aspect of the beer. The nose is full of raspberry sherbet,... Read More
Bourbon Street Porter by Low Road Brewing is an American Porter aged with bourbon-soaked toasted oak spirals and is being evaluated as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the Bourbon addition. The beer pours with a very minimal off-white head that slowly rises to a layer of foam on top. The... Read More
This beer was judged as a 26C Belgian Tripel. In the glass, it's a very attractive gold with a frothy white head that persists, leaving lacing on the glass. The nose presents very akin to classic Belgian yeast, but has a saison twist to it. Loads of pepper, faint clove and low vanilla, along... Read More
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dopplebock by Seedstock Brewery was judged under 33b Specialty Wood-Aged Beer due to the use of a Bourbon Barrel.
It pours as a very attractive deep red-brown, with a persistent creamy off-white head. The barrel character is relatively restrained, which is very... Read More
Juicify by Lakefront Brewery is being judged here as a 21B Specialty IPA, using the underlying style as a juicy/hazy IPA.
In the glass, it is a somewhat hazy pale yellow with a thin white head that sticks around. Attractive enough. The nose shows as quite fruity, with cantaloupe, guava,... Read More
Peerless Barrel Aged Toasted Pilsner by Hometown Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a 33B Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, with a base style of 5D German Pils.
The beer presents as a faintly hazed deep burnished gold with a lot of larger bubbles escaping. The head collapses quite quickly to... Read More
